Corporate Member
Catawba Valley Staffing– Wendy Ward; Susan Ernst
General Members:
Angie Bedford – Legal
Susan Bingham – Nurse
Meredith Bleynat – Nurse
Annette Brinkley – Brinkley Insurance
Jim Brookes – Social Worker
Ted Carothers – Healthcare Admin
Vivian Carothers – Occupational Therapist
Karen Clark-Caruso – Valdese ABC Board
Scott Compton – Medical Sales/Marketing
Rachael Palmer – Land Conservation
Maryann Diamond – Financial Advisor
Seth Eckard – Town Management
Richard Epley – Security
Mike Farris – Insurance Agency
Tamika Garrison – Pastor
Kim Hyatt – Banking
Kevin Frederick – Pastor
Lu Litton Griffin – Non-Profit Development
Shawn Hamm – D.O. UNC Health Blue Ridge
David Harmon – Architect
Beth Heile – NoteWorthy Software, Inc
Faith “Cutie” Kaplan – Retail
Linda Kidd – Town Recreation
John Lafferty – MD
Chris Leonhardt – Valdese ABC Board
Christina McNally – Healthcare, Carolina Caring
Paul Mears – Principal Agent, Nationwide Insurance
Alicia Mears – Educator
Jon Mercer – COO, UNC Health Blue Ridge
Kristina Mercer – Highland’s Family Farm
Chuck Moseley – Business Development
Pat Navanh – Education
Sarah Owens – Fabric Manufacturing Project Management – 3rd Generation Rotarian
Teresa Parker – Healthcare
Edyth Potter – Community Theater, Old Colony Players
Debbie Thompson – Educator
Sheree Troy – Flight Attendant
Tom Troy – Pilot
Santford Wellborn – Veterinarian
Elsie Whisenant – Educator
Honorary Members
Bruce Hawkins, Tim Horldt, Larry Earp, Jim Rostan, Jerry Baker, Ed Plemmons-
Member Dates (Join Date)
Rachael Dial 15 March 2022
Chris L 15 March 2022
Edyth Potter 15 March 2022
Shawn Hamm Fall 2021
Tamika Garrison Fall 2021
Linda Kidd Fall 2021
Debbie Thompson Fall 2021
Kim Hyatt 01 Jul 2020
Angie Bedford 01 Jul 2020
Alicia Mears 01 Jul 2020
Teresa Parker 01 Jul 2020
Julie Brady 01 Jul 2020
Barbara Ball 01 Jul 2020
Meredith 01 Jul 2010
Maryann 26 Jul 2011
Vivian 18 Jul 2017
Jon M 01 Jul 2013
Paul 01 Jul 1994
Elsie 03 Aug 2010
Ted 01 Sep 1998
Beth 15 Sep 2015
David Harmon 22 Sep 2020
Cutie Kaplan 22 Sep 2020
Kristina 21 Oct 2014
Santford 01 Nov 1989
Kevin01 Dec 2007
John L 01 Dec 1983
Annette 01 Jan 1996
Chuck 01 Feb 1984
Lu Feb 2001
Sheree 06 Mar 2018
Tom 06 Mar 2018
Karen 12 May 1995
Wendy 26 Jun 2018
Susan 01 Jun 2017
Jim B Oct?
Member Dates (Birthdate)
John L Jul 26
Paul Jul 24
Annette Jul 25
Julie Brady July 27
Jim Aug 09
Edyth August 9
Kevin Aug 13
Angie Bedford Aug 13
Ted Sep 26
Tom Sep 10
Karen Oct 08
Jon M Oct 17
Shawn H Oct 19
Kristina Nov 02
Beth H Nov 01
Elsie Nov 12
Wendy W Nov 14
Alicia Mears Nov 22
Tamika Nov 21
Barbara Ball Dec 13
Lu Litton Dec 19
David Harmon Dec 22
Seth Dec 28
Maryann Jan 09
Linda Kidd Jan 6
Vivian Jan 21
Teresa Parker Jan 29
Susan Feb 09
Debbie T Feb 17
Santford Mar 09
Faith “Cutie” Kaplan April 21
Meredith May 14
Christina McNallay Jun 4
Kim Hyatt June 20
Chuck Jun 22
Sheree Jun 03
Valdese Women in Rotary (May 2021 Report)
From Rotary International — 1987 – On 4 May, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that Rotary clubs may not exclude women from membership on the basis of gender. Rotary issues a policy statement that any Rotary club in the United States can admit qualified women into membership.
Rotary Club of Valdese inducted our first female member in 1988. Mary-Louise Hatley, a realtor in town, was the first and she went on to become our first female president in 1993. Three more women served as president through 1999.
From there, more women were added primarily with our spouse membership program. The goal was not to add women, but to add members. For a spouse membership, Valdese Club pays RI and District Dues and the spouse pays meals and local fees. We currently have 5 sets of spouse members – the highest has been 8 sets. Most spouses were already active in the club, just not “official.”
Our executive committee has been 75-100% female for the past 5 years with a female president since 2017 starting with Beth Heile, followed by Maryann Diamond, Kristina Mercer and currently Susan Bingham. Of those, two were spouse members and two were not.
For the club year 2020-2021, with Beth Heile as membership chair, 6 of 7 of new members are women and our current membership stands at 19 women members of 33 total. We currently have 6 female members who have been in the club 9-25 years.
Our goal always has been, and always will be, to welcome new folks into Rotary. We do not target certain types or classifications; we just want those who put Service Above Self.
~Beth Heile